 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clarsax
Date: 2023-12-23 19:38
I am looking to buy one of these bass clarinet, low Eb model
I had soprano clarinets from both and I know they are different in terms of overall feel and keywork, but they are both high quality instruments you can't go wrong with.
I'm asking you what your impressions are, especially in terms of sound eveness and resistance across the various registers.
Thank you
Post Edited (2023-12-23 19:40)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2023-12-23 20:13
As an occasional bass clarinetist I always enjoyed the ease of play and the more forward sound of the Selmer. Of course I'm remembering what the state of things were at least ten years ago now.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-12-23 20:39
It mostly comes down to personal preference. The Privilege is much more free blowing, but personally I didn't like that as it felt like I had nothing to push against. Both are great instruments and you really need to try them side by side to figure out which one is ideal for you.
If you are looking for a low Eb bass clarinet, I would also strongly suggest considering a vintage instrument. The original Selmer model 32 is a fantastic horn and generally costs around $3000-$4000 overhauled. The Selmer model 35 is another option to consider that will be very close to the modern Privilege while being considerably cheaper.
-JDbassplayer
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Author: Clarsax
Date: 2023-12-23 20:48
Regarding the "free blowing", I assume you are referring to the use of the more open angle neck?
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-12-23 20:57
I'm referring to how resistant the instrument is, so an instrument with very little resistance would be free blowing.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Clarsax
Date: 2023-12-23 21:34
@jdbassplayer
yes, it is
I meant they are more free blowing playing with the open angle neck
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-12-23 21:51
It has more to do with the overall design of the instrument rather than the neck. Selmer offers 2 necks with the Privilege, one with a steep angle like the Buffet Prestige and one with a more traditional angle like you see on older instruments. Both have similar response, though the angle does greatly affect ergonomics. You can also get aftermarket necks with different angles or have the angle of the neck modified by a repair tech.
-JDbassplayer
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2023-12-23 21:59
I got a steeper angled neck for my Selmer and it still plays like a Selmer, just in a more comfortable position ergonomically. It didn't change the resistance for me.
If I were shopping for a bass clarinet these days, I would also look at the Royal Global instruments. I recently had the chance to play a Royal Global Max next to my Selmer 33 and I was very impressed. It seemed similar to how I remember Buffet's bass clarinets, with an even response, solid feeling keys and a beautiful tone.
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Author: donald
Date: 2023-12-24 01:55
I echo the comments above but would add...
- Buffet richer tone, less "even" (in tone quality and response)
- Selmer clear tone, more even
My other "thing" is that when playing a bass without a neck strap I fine the Buffet register mechanism more comfortable. With Selmer (a different key set up) I find the register key operation pushes the instrument away from me very slightly. A small thing that some people obviously don't notice. This doesn't happen btw when playing with a neck strap, just when playing with a spike.
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Author: Micke Isotalo ★2017
Date: 2023-12-24 13:50
Das Blashaus say on their Website: "We have developed the solution to the intonation problem of the Selmer Privilege bass clarinet: The B-flat mechanism!" (https://blashaus.ch/en/bass-clarinets/#b-mechanik)
It's a retrofitted Bb-mechanism, which I suppose concerns the throat Bb and is thus similar as on the Tosca and the coming Backun Q bass.
I don't have much of personal experience of the Privilege bass, but others who have, is the throat Bb flat or sharp - and about how much? Does any alternate fingerings help, and if so, which?
Anyway, since the Prestige apparently doesn't have this issue (despite a "regular" Bb-mechanism), that could thus be an advantage over the Privilege - for the OP to consider.
Post Edited (2023-12-24 14:01)
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Author: ebonite
Date: 2023-12-24 14:23
Micke Isotalo wrote:
>
> It's a retrofitted Bb-mechanism, which I suppose concerns the
> throat Bb and is thus similar as on the Tosca and the coming
> Backun Q bass.
>
I haven't tried an instrument with this mechanism, but I guess that it must be part of a solution to improve the low E /middle B 12th. Usually either the low E is flat, or the B above is sharp. If you design the toneholes so that low E is in tune, and middle B is sharp, then you can bring down the pitch of B by reducing the diameter of the lower register vent (i.e. the vent that doubles as throat Bb tonehole), without affecting low E. But this will then also lower the pitch of the throat Bb. So that's probably why the tosca has the extra vent, as it opens only when throat Bb is played, correcting the pitch of this note, while also allowing both low E and middle B to be in tune.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2023-12-24 17:15
Michael Lowenstern demos a variety of basses on his site. He also just gave a review of a new upcoming Backun model over on YouTube.
https://www.earspasm.com/instruments
FWIW- I always like the sound of a Selmer over Buffet, but have not played the most recent models
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2023-12-24 20:34
Over the past several years, I have owned a number of different bass clarinets. The best is my Model 65 that I got new at the Elkhart Conn-Selmer factory about four years ago. I opted for the Low Eb model, but it does have the articulated C#/G# and the LH Eb lever.
When I tried the 65, I brought my model 62 from the 1970s for comparison; it too had the same articulated and alternate keys as the 65. Both of these instruments played great with a robust sound but the 65 had the big edge in voice, intonation, and ergonomics. The keywork had become a bit clanky and noisy on the 32.
I did purchase an additional neck but seem to be more comfortable with the more upward bent one. I've briefly played the Buffet, Yamaha, and Eubel and the Selmer had the edge. each time.
HRL
PS My MP of choice has been McClune refaced Selmer Soloist C*. I have three and each has a tiny bit of difference.
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Author: donald
Date: 2023-12-25 05:21
Hi Hank, I used to have one of those McClune ones and REGRET selling it... I didn't sell it to you, did I? A few years back I hunted down an old Selmer mouthpiece to send to McClune to reface, but then never got "a round tuit" and sold it to a student....
dn
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2023-12-25 08:22
Hey Donald,
Sorry, but all my McClunes are from me sending him an older Selmer Soloist C*. They really sing on my Selmer bass clarinets and are still #1 bass mouthpiece.
Hank
PS But I did buy three Borbecks Bb soprano MPs from you. Those are terrific as well.
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Author: Limoughted
Date: 2025-06-05 11:41
wrote:
> Hey Donald,
>
> Sorry, but all my McClunes are from me sending him an older
> Selmer Soloist C*. They really sing on my Selmer bass clarinets
> and are still #1 bass mouthpiece.
>
> Hank
>
> PS But I did buy three Borbecks Bb soprano MPs from you. Those
> are terrific as well.
>
I haven’t played an instrument with this mechanism myself, but I imagine it’s designed to address the common tuning issue between low E and middle B (the 12th). Typically, either the low E is flat or the middle B is sharp. If you design the toneholes so that the low E is in tune—resulting in a sharp middle B—you can lower the pitch of the B by reducing the diameter of the lower register vent (which also serves as the throat Bb tonehole), without affecting the low E. However, this adjustment would also lower the pitch of the throat Bb. That’s likely why the Tosca model includes an additional vent: it opens only when the throat Bb is played, correcting its pitch, while still allowing both the low E and middle B to remain in tune.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2025-06-06 08:59
>> Selmer offers 2 necks with the Privilege, one with a steep angle like the Buffet Prestige and one with a more traditional angle like you see on older instruments. Both have similar response, though the angle does greatly affect ergonomics. <<
Yes, but although the steeper angle neck is more similar to the Buffet neck angle, it's different in how it is more squished towards the instrument. It has a pretty different feel as far as mouthpiece to instrument positions. It's all a matter of preference anyway.
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Author: ClarinetVirtuoso
Date: 2025-06-07 21:12
I have owned and played Selmer and now own a Buffet Prestige Bass Clarinet. I owned the Selmer that came out in 1983 ish when I was at college. There were a group of us who bought thee new Selmer. I played solo repertoire on it including the York Bowen Phantasy Quintet and I loved it. The keywork was very comfortable and the sound was sublime. I played it in orchestras and for musicals and I thought it couldn’t be beaten. I didn’t play it for about two years so I sold it.
As always happens, about two months later I was offered at least a year’s work covering in a musical for a colleague - Bari sax, bass clarinet and clarinet! So, I started looking around for a bass clarinet I could afford. God must have been smiling on me because I found a private seller of a Buffet Prestige which I went along and tried at the owner’s house. Well, I couldn’t believe the vibrancy and the ease of tone production. So I bought it and still have it.
I suppose what I am trying to say is that both Selmer and Buffet both make beautiful bass clarinets. The Selmer makes a warm rich sound and the Buffer is a bit more vibrant. Try both - play the same pieces on both. The mouthpiece is very important- the Selmer C* is a lovely mouthpiece. I use the same on my Buffet and a Vandoren crystal mouthpiece which really like the feel of and of course the sound of.
I hope this helps a bit. I would be doing both makes of bass clarinet a disservice if I picked one over the other. See what you can find secondhand - look at the price carefully. That is my advice.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2025-06-08 00:42
i shopped ebay daily for a few years and low and behold a buffet prestiege bass showed up and the owner thought it was a 1180 and was priced at 2500$ i snatched it up right away. it is a retired us army instrument and the seller was just a flipper so i won this battle
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